J-.S 














& 







,v< 







Laughter and Longing 



BY 

NANCY BUCKLEY 



SAN FRANCISCO: 
MARVIN CLOYD 

1921 






Copyright, 1921 

By NANCY BUCKLEY 

San Francisco 



DEC -3 1921 

©O.ft65320l 



I 



FOREWORD 



San Francisco has again produced evi- 
dence of its witchery — its subtle power to 
wake vision and move it to gracious expres- 
sion. In "Laughter and Longing," a collec- 
tion of her published poems, Nancy Buckley 
has presented another phase of that distinc- 
tively Californian music which, through her 
eminent predecessors and contemporaries, 
has sung down the years in many keys and 
modulations. No newcomer could achieve 
the results won by these poets. They alone, 
after long years or a lifetime of saturation in 
the Californian spirit, are filled with a 
unique quality fitting them for their high 
task. Miss Buckley, latest and youngest ad- 
dition to a distinguished company, is heart- 
ily welcomed and her little book is cordially 
recommended. Here will be found, modestly, 
simply, sincerely disclosed, the fine insight 
of a delicate poetic soul joined to a cultured 
mind. 

It is pleasant to add that Miss Buckley is 
also winning enviable rank as a writer of 
short stories. A brilliant life waits on her 
efforts in fiction as well as in verse. 

W. C. MORROW. 
San Francisco, November, 1921. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENT 



Acknowledgment is hereby made of 
the courtesy of Munsey's, Top Notch, 
Good Housekeeping, The Signet, The 
Penwoman, San Francisco Call, The 
Wasp, Overland Monthly, The Mag- 
nificat, Farm Life, The Grail, The 
Household Guest, The Franciscan Her- 
ald, Woman's Weekly, Queen's Work, 
Los Angeles Times Magazine, Exten- 
sion, Home Friend, The Fun Book, 
Farm and Home, The Missionary, The 
Young Catholic Messenger, The Home 
Quarterly, Social Progress, The World 
Call, Kind Words, The Telescope, 
Berkeley Times, Newman Hall Review, 
The Californian, The Daily American 
Tribune, The Register, and the Ameri- 
can Agriculturist for permission to use 
in this volume poems originally con- 
tributed to these magazines. 



To 
Mary Elizabeth 



CONTENTS 



Page 

Laughter and Longing 3 

"At Shut of Evening Flowers" 4 

Lanterns 5 

Christmas Music '. 6 

Faith 7 

The Minstrel 8 

Butterflies 9 

April 10 

A Rainy Day 11 

The Tryst ; 12 

The Little Pilgrims 13 

Hunger 14 

A Friend 15 

Contrast 16 

In An Old-Time Garden 17 

Light 18 

To Kathleen's Eyes 19-20 

Her Dowry 21 

The Sanctuary Lamp 22 

The House of Youth 23 

Moon Magic 24 

The House of Dreams 25 

The Mill Girl.... 26 

Flowers at Twilight. 27 

Life's Symphony 28 

Memories 29 

Before a Wood Fire 30 

The Gypsy 31 

(Continued on Next Page) 



CONTENTS— Continued 

Page 

Solitude 32 

Nocturne 33 

The Little Things 34 

The Masquerader 35-36 

My Dream Garden 37 

My Riches 38 

The Fog 39 

Caprice 40 

You 41 

The Spinner 42 

Moonlight on San Francisco Bay 43 

Our Lips Were Dumb 44 

In the Tea Room 45 

A Mother to Her Little Son 46 

Christmas Joy 47 

The Artist Speaks.. 48 

Serenade . . . 49 

Spring Song 50 

Crossing the Bay 51 

Umbrellas 52 

The Old Violin , 53 

Dawn Magic 54 

To Jean , 55 

Sunset On the Bay.., 56 

One Golden Day 57 

Reveille 58 

Aloha 59 



Laughter and Longing 



HAUGHTER, — for the perfumed summer night, 
For high desire — for the swift delight 
Of lips of flame on soft and scarlet lips, 
For all the world within my treasure ships. 

Longing, — for the slender shadowed dawn, 
For elfin call of silver-fluted morn, 
For roses red, bedewed with happy tears, 
For just an hour of the vanished years. 



[3] 



"AT SHUT OF EVENING FLOWERS" 

X GLIDE across the street in cloak of dreams, 
And knock upon your little door. It seems 
To open swiftly to my eager hand, 
And there, as in the old sweet days, you stand. 

I touch your fragrant lips so tenderly, 
I hear the murmured words you speak to me, 
I see your eyes filled with the wistful smile 
That made my joy for such a little while. 

Then music melts along the golden air, 

All filled with scent of roses faint and rare, 

And as the veil is lifted from the past, 

Our hearts remember dreams that could not last. 



[4] 



03 



LANTERNS 

Y memories glowing lanterns are, 
They shed a radiance from afar; 
And show me joys of bygone years, 
Filmed with the mist of happy tears. 
Brave light in eyes that would not weep, 
A year's sweet Spring that Love would keep, 
A little house so white and still, 
A gypsy lane, a friendly hill, 
A sapphire sky, a sunset hue, 
A laughing sea all silver-blue. 
Filled with the light of vanished Mays, 
The lanterns brighten all my days. 



[5] 



CHRISTMAS MUSIC 

a PON the hushed air of night, soft strains 
Of melody came down, like gentle rains 
That fall from pitying skies. Then woke from sleep 
The shepherd band and breathed in silence deep 
The ecstasy of sound. And from afar 
Poised like a golden bird, they saw a star ! 
Then soft it moved and winged it music way 
To where in grateful straw there lay 
A woman fair and on her soft white breast 
A Babe but newly born smiled in His rest, 
And to her thrilled ears His hunger cries 
Were sweeter far than music from the skies. 
She heeded not the midnight's golden grace, 
For found she heaven in her Baby's face. 



[6] 



FAITH 

X BUILT a castle in sunny Spain, 
With towers and turrets fair; 
And then at the touch of wind and rain, 
My castle dissolved in air. 

I set a fleet on the azure sea, 
With a freight of dreams so bright; 
But never a ship returned to me, 
Though I watched through day and night. 

And yet I know, some happy day, 
I'll see my castle in Spain, 
And all my ships that sailed away 
Will come home over the main. 



[7] 



THE MINSTREL 

HIFE wooed me once with roundelay, 
And roses and the sweets of May, 
And soft as summer stars his eyes 
Or summer wind that sings and dies. 

Life wooed me once with silent song, 

That bore a heavy grief along, 

And cold as is the Winter's sun 

Were his dark eyes when Love was done. 

Oh ! Life, you took your roses fair, 
Your songs that thrilled the eager air, 
And left the heavy grief and sore 
Across the threshold of my door. 



[8] 



BUTTERFLIES 



I 



XN Summer in my garden fair, 
Bright butterflies are everywhere, 
And underneath their shining wings, 
Are hid the dreams of splendid things. 

II 

In Winter when the sun is dead 

And youth's bright hour is quickly fled, 

Within the snow my butterflies 

Drift wraith-like from the leaden skies. 



[9] 



APRIL 

nER eyes are filled with laughter bright, 
Her feet are shod with gold, 
Her lips are made of morning light, 
And happiness untold. 

Upon her cheek the Sun's warm kiss, 
And in her hands young Love, 
And Joy springs up in sudden bliss, 
Like flight of happy dove. 

A truce she's made with Sorrow deep, 
And ever-bitter Care, 
And in her heart so fair and bright 
Youth dwells eternal there. 



[10] 



A RAINY DAY 

CHE little fingers of the rain 
Beat gently on my window-pane, 
And through the misted glass I see 
Small figures that, like elves in glee, 
Dance here and there, soft-clasped with hands 
Of restless winds that give commands. 
And with their boisterous fun and play 
They brighten up the darksome day. 
They whisper through the tears of rain 
That sparkle on my window-pane, 
That in ourselves are ever made 
The days of sunshine and of shade. 
What matters if the skies be grey, 
If in our hearts it's always May? 



[11 



THE TRYST 

i^HROUGH the misted light of early morn, 
\^^ Through silvery shadows of scented dawn, 
My pulses leap as I quickly run 
To keep my tryst with The Loved One. 

And there in the chapel's silence dim 
A little red lamp burns bright for Him, 
Like my ardent heart it seems to soar 
And touch with soft light The Golden Door. 

The bell rings low and He comes to me 
Just my own Love with no majesty, 
And all forgot is Life's grief and pain 
As He dwells in my throbbing heart again. 

Each passing hour of my busy day, 

Is filled with light from that morning ray, 

And ever closed is my heart to sin, 

For I've kept the tryst of Love with Him. 



[12] 




THE LITTLE PILGRIMS 

MALL pilgrims brown my memories are, 
They come from journeyings afar, 
And each one brings in his wee hand 
Some little gift from distant lands; 
One brings some gold from the rainbow's end, 
And one, the heart of a loyal friend ; 
One sings my mother's lullaby, 
One bids me see a sunset sky. 
And one is drenched with silver mist 
Of moonlight fair when young lips kissed. 
Their sandalled feet press on my heart — 
And then their caravans depart 
As silently and tenderly 
As happiness descends on me! 



[13 



HUNGER 

OUTSTRETCHED his hungry hands. The 
passing throng 
Took little notice as it moved along, 
And heeded not the beggar's piteous plea, 
Nor turned a second time his face to see. 
Save one, — a woman young and very fair, 
Whose April face gleamed white beneath her hair, 
And 'gainst her velvet dress an orchid died, 
So close to her, — content and satisfied. 
A coin that matched her golden hair she dropped 
Into the thirsting crippled hands, then stopped 
And gave the richer gold of sympathy 
That e'en the beggar's sightless eyes could see. 
Her wistful eyes looked out on life and pled, 
E'en as the lean and hungry hands, for bread, 
For living bread was her unuttered cry, 
For faith and hope and love that could not die. 
They both were beggars poor : the man craved dole 
For body starved, the woman for her soul. 



[14] 



A FRIEND 

^TfiORN was I with the biting heat, 
VX/ Of desert's glaring sun, 
Of cruel sands that bruised my feet, 
My journey scarce begun. 

And then my startled ears were filled 
With sound of sweetest song, 

A song a brooklet made that trilled 
And ran white ways along. 

I held its coolness in my hand, 
And drank its sweet delight, — 

The fairest scene in all the land 
Its waters sparkling white. 

So when my life was spent with fear, 

In desert of defeat, 
And there seemed no one far or near 

To guide my erring feet. 

Softly from out the night you came, 
And like the brooklet clear, 

You quenched the all-consuming flame 
Of bitterness and fear. 

[15] 



CONTRAST 

ir^HEN you are far away no golden streams 
VAx Of sunlit waters flow — no happy dreams 
Take my sad heart for their own resting place. 
And all in vain I look for your dear face, 
I listen vainly for your gentle voice, 
Whose music notes made envious birds rejoice! 
But like a weighted year seems each dull day — 
Each night and noon, when you are far away. 

When you are near, Joy folds her eager wings 
To rest awhile, and all the glad world sings 
A happy song that charms away dull care. 
And sunlight shines and birds fly through the air, 
And slow across the sea of sapphire sky, 
Like tiny ships, the cloudlets wander by, 
And all is fair and bright, and life is dear, 
And heaven's very close — when you are near. 



[16] 




IN AN OLD-TIME GARDEN 

OFT stirring 'neath the hand of June, 
That ever-gentle touch of love ; 
The flowers seem to ope full soon, 
And smile at sunny skies above, 
And watch the lovely jasmine throng 
Shed perfume as it moves along. 

Tall fragrant lilies, white and gold, 
Like slender sentinels they seem, 

Who keep still watch o'er roses bold 
Enthralled in love-raptured dream. 

And lavender in purple guise 

Is showering tints for babies' eyes ! 

And when the happy moon pours down 

Upon the garden silver rain, 
A lady fair in silken gown 

Awakes from sleep and walks again, 
And greets once more her lover there, 
Who puts a rose in her dark hair. 



[17] 



LIGHT 

yjr^Y lamp shall be thy gentle eyes, 
V*-k So calm, so full of love, 
That brighten all life's gloomy skies, 
As stars that shine above. 

My lamp shall be thy ardent hope, 
So steadfast, true and clear, 
A beacon to poor souls that grope 
Adown a darkened year. 

My lamp shall be thy tenderness, 
So soft and free from care, 
Like mother's hands that come to bless 
A child at lisped prayer. 



[18] 



TO KATHLEEN'S EYES 

j^n WO little fairies were lost one day, 
^^/ Two gay little elves- in brown, 
Far from their home they wandered away, 
And traveled the busy town. 

When the sun shone bright you heard their song 

And it made you laugh with glee, 

As with the breezes they danced along, 

As gay as ever could be. 

And all went well for a little space, 

And the elves were brave and bold. 

For the joy and the smiles on the sunny face 

Of the world that ne'er grows old. 

But when the bright stars so small and shy 
Had peeped through the wings of Night, 
And a big round moon filled all the sky 
And the earth with silver light, 

The gay little fairies were filled with fear 
And longed to be safe asleep 



[19 



But alas ! no cheery home was near, 
The brown ones began to weep. 

Just then sweet Kathleen came passing by 
With a red rose in her hair, 
And her pretty head held ever so high, 
The brightest coleen there ! 

The little brown babies saw her face 
With its wondrous eyes of brown, 
They straightway forgot their merry chase 
And the home they lost in town. 

For soft and warm were sweet Kathleen's eyes, 
And the fairies quickly flew 
To their dear refuge ; with happy sighs 
They basked in their golden dew. 

In that cheerful prison they passed their time. 
Barred in by lashes long, 
And Kathleen's eyes more sweetly shine 
Because of the fairies' song. 



[20] 



HER DOWRY 

OH ! the rich, rich gold in her shining hair, 
And the sapphires in her eyes, 
And the rubies red in her lips as fair 
As the flame in sunset skies. 

Oh ! the rich, rich gold in her loyal heart, 
And the bright gleam in her looks, 
So like the sunbeams that quiver and dart 
And ripple the shiny brooks. 

Oh ! the rich, rich gold of her faith and love, 
Of her warm tenderness, 

That have come like soft visions from above, 
My poverty to bless. 



[21 



THE SANCTUARY LAMP 

^^^HE rainbow streams of sunset glory fair, 
^^^ Poured radiant splendor on the floor, and there 
Were many shining pools of gold, so bright 
They made the hushed darkness seem alight. 
But one small rival of their brilliancy 
Burned, like an ardent heart, for all to see: 
A little lamp whose softly pulsing ray 
Was ever beating through the night and day. 
So close it was, so near the door of gold, 
This rosy living flame by Love made bold, 
Seemed to o'erleap its shining crystal band, 
And with its rose and lily sisters stand : 
Wee small sweet sentinels who gladly bring 
Their little lives as tribute to the King. 



[22] 




THE HOUSE OF YOUTH 

O swift we go with eager feet 
Into the House of Youth to meet 
The dreams and hopes and happy tears 
That vanished with our golden years. 
And then from dark horizon's brim 
The moon steals up with silver rim, 
And scent of roses fills the air 
And your dear eyes are sparkling there. 
My pulses leap while the night bird sings 
And hours pass as flash of wings. 
We hear the river's murmuring flow 
As we two heard it years ago 
When young together, you and I, 
Found Love's star in a midnight sky. 



[23] 



MOON MAGIC 

i^vHE white enchantress presses slender hands 
^^^ Upon my dreaming face and with bright bands 
Of silver light she seals my eyes from pain, 
And makes me live my dreams of youth again. 
And June leaves whisper, and red roses blow, 
And nightingales pour forth their songs' sweet flow. 
And all the land with magic charm is filled, 
And Sorrow's voice within my heart is stilled. 



[24] 



THE HOUSE OF DREAMS 

HIKE gentle doves across the sky 
The silver cloudlets wander by, 
And flowers' dewy hands caress 
The walls that hold my happiness, 
And summer winds from o'er the hill 
Make music sweet when all is still. 
And when night comes, the moonbeams bright 
Fill all the world with silver light, 
And fragrant perfume faint and rare 
Awakens all the slumbering air, 
In my small house of dreams. 

And then, Beloved, you come to me, 
Upon the clouds of Memory, 
And once again our hearts beat high 
And tender love, that cannot die 
Fills all our house of dreams. 

Until, with dawning of the day, 
You take my heart and slip away, 
And leave in your young beauty's stead 
But ashen memories cold and dead, 
In my small house of dreams. 



[25 



THE MILL GIRL 

ELL through the day she hears the whirring 
rhyme 
Of flying steel — not soft as when in time 
Of dreamy Summer all the honey bees 
Murmur and hum within the hollow trees, 
And all day long she sees but tired heads 
Bend sad and low above the spinning threads 
And stunted wasted bodies pinched for food 
The while they work for fashion's idle mood. 
But not for her the smiling sapphire skies 
The roses' scent, the winds' soft-whispered sighs, 
The fiery opal moon, the star-drops bright 
That hang upon the pulsing breast of night, 
Who through the weary hours of the day 
Unceasing spins her little life away, 
And weaves her dreams, her blood, her heart, her 

strength, 
Into the beauty of a silken length. 



[26] 



FLOWERS AT TWILIGHT 

aNDER the gentle touch of twilight there, 
The flowers ever seem to grow more fair, 
And ardent roses try to hide their blush 
While listening to the music of a thrush. 
The golden lilies, pure and white and tall, 
Gleam like bright candles in some stately hall, 
And jewelled leaves their shining all unfold 
As soft as when a tale of love is told. 
And bending low to touch the violet's eyes, 
I meet your own in swift and glad surprise ! 



[27] 



LIFE'S SYMPHONY 

OIKE silken threads the subtle themes 
Weave in and out their web of dreams, 
And form a pattern fair to see, 
As some Italian tapestry. 
And gleaming there is Love's gold strand 
And near it is a silver band 
Made from young laughter; and the gray 
That falls as mist across the way 
Of shadowed lives ; and then the blush 
Of rose before the day ; the hush 
From night's soft wings ; the russet leaves 
That fall as tears when Autumn grieves. 
Upon the grateful air it hangs, 
And hearts enmeshed feel not the pangs 
Of restless pulsing, but the cease 
Of conflict and the dawn of peace. 



[28 



MEMORIES 

V-^FTTIMES i n to the silence of my room 
^L^ There gently steals a faint and sweet perfume, 
As if an ardent rose, soft-stirred by love, 
Fluttered its petals small like trembling dove. 

Lo, from each crimson leaf there quickly falls 
A little tender dream that softly calls 
And bids my lonely heart again to see 
The smallest treasures of my memory; 

A golden hope that thrilled me as it came, 
A happy bird that warbled in the rain, 
A joy that made my heart so glad and strong, 
The hallowed beauty of my mother's song; 

The sunset glory in an evening sky, 
The soft appeal within a violet's eye. 
These tiny rose-leaves with their film of tears 
Fall bright across the pathway of the years ! 



[29] 



BEFORE A WOOD FIRE 

ES crimson rose, the fire burned red, 
And tiny flames like petals shed 
A faint perfume then brightly fell 
With music notes of tinkling bell 
Or low-breathed croon of lullaby 
That mother sings to hush a cry. 
And tender half-forgotten dreams 
Fill all my heart until it seems 
As if life's pathway rough and steep 
A happy road lay at my feet. 
And through the fire's witchery 
The dull grey day no more I see 
But little skies sun-kissed full soon, 
And smiling dancing seas and June! 



[30] 



03 



THE GYPSY 



Y heart's a gypsy, gay and free, 
Who ever dances on the lea, 
And plays beneath the scented veil 
Of Summer twilight faint and pale. 

II 

My heart's a gypsy, brave and bold, 
Who never thinks of worldly gold, 
Who owns the silver of the moon, 
The wealth of stars in skies of June ! 

Ill 

My heart's a gypsy, shy and small, 
Who never wants to roam at all, 
Who runs to tender arms to sleep 
Whene'er he sees the shadows creep. 



[31 



SOLITUDE 

O high above the dust and smoky gloom, 
Like swallows' tiny nest hangs my small room. 
At early morn across the roofs I see 
The daylight come, so limitless and free. 
And then at eve my raptured eyes behold 
The hills agleam with floods of sunset gold. 
I hear the birds asinging in the eaves, 
The gentle rustle of the Autumn leaves, 
And like soft friendly eyes across the night, 
Are all the brood of tiny stars, so bright. 
Up here, where air is pure and breeze is sweet, 
I leave behind the noise and glaring heat, 
And darkened vision quick begins to clear, 
And Love and Heaven seem so very near. 



[32] 






NOCTURNE 

XLEFT Love grieving at the trysting place ; 
My restless eyes turned from his pleading face 
And said: "There is so much for me to do — 
And time is swift — I have no need of you. 
Some other day, perhaps when youth is done 
And all the victories of life are won, 
A tryst we'll keep." And so I played the game 
That men have played for years, and wealth and fame 
Were mine. Still in the whispering of the woods 
I heard his voice, and in the happy broods 
Of stars at dusk I saw his wistful eyes 
Look into mine and fill with soft surprise 
At my poor foolish running after things 
That passed so quickly like the flash of wings; 
And all the wasted empty years went past 
Until, touched by the hand of Pain, at last 
My sleeping heart awoke and ran to meet 
Love at the tryst. But Death had been more fleet. 



[33] 



THE LITTLE THINGS 

CHE little things of life are dear ! 
The tender little things so near : 
The waking in the singing morn, 
The lifting of the veil of dawn, 
The crackle of the nursery fire, 
And Love's small tasks that never tire, 
The words that make the heart rejoice, 
The music lilt of baby's voice, 
The little view of smiling sky 
And purple hills where shadows lie. 
The scented air — the bright eyed flower, 
The silence hushed of twilight hour. 
They come as soft as angel's wings, 
They are so dear — the little things. 



[34] 






THE MASQUERADER 

XLOST my Love one sunny day 
In Spring's immortal hours, 
When all the world was out at play 
Amid the waving flowers. 

She ran from me with laughing eyes, 
That gleamed through golden hair, 
And all the blue of happy skies 
Was held in thralldom there. 

I followed fast with flying feet, 

I called her dearest name ; 

But she had vanished quite complete, 

My labor seemed in vain. 

I hunted all the wide world o'er, 
I searched among the flowers, 



[35] 



I wandered on the ocean's shore, 
And in deserted bowers. 

But one sad day when hope had left 
The shelter of my heart, 
I felt then that I was bereft 
And let the hot tears start. 

But soon I saw a child at play, 
And heard a merry voice, 
That made me brush my tears away 
And bade my heart rejoice. 

Her eyes glowed blue like sapphires bright, 
Or starlets up above, 
And hidden 'neath their glorious light 
I found my little Love. 



[36] 



MY DREAM GARDEN 

XKNOW where deep blue violets blow, 
Where soft vines creep, white lilies grow ; 
Where all day long, in Summer time, 
You hear the river's drowsy rhyme. 
Lo, perfumed flowers their incense bring, 
And every leaf is an emerald wing ! 
Then, at the eve, through silver bars 
Of moonlight fair, peep baby stars. 
So calm, so still, the gentle air, 
As if soft dreams were thronging there, 
And waiting but for memory's kiss 
To live again their hour of bliss ! 



[37] 



MY RICHES 

XHAVE a little dusky rose 
That showers perfume rare, 
As on the summer wind it blows, 
So gay and free from care. 

I have a little happy view 

Of ever smiling sky, 

Where clouds of palest silver-blue 

Like doves go wand'ring by. 

I have a little golden dream 
That haunts me night and day. 
And like a starlet's golden beam 
Lights up my darksome way. 

The rose with dusky leaves apart, 
The happy little view, 
The golden dream within my heart, 
Are memories of you ! 



[38] 



THE FOG 

HIKE soft, sheer silken veil, it gently fell 
Across the City's face, and wove its spell 
Of happiness upon those tired hearts 
That played, through weary hours, bitter parts. 
And little, darting dreams of long ago, 
Came fluttering near, so soft and low, 
With tender, eager wings. And golden rays 
Of truant beams escaped from happier days, 
Fell on each restless, tired heart and hand, 
And made the misted world seem Fairyland. 



[39] 



CAPRICE 

HAST night you looked at me with tender eyes ; 
I saw Love hid beneath their fair disguise, 
I joyed to hear your music-laughter take 
A softer, gentler note for my poor sake. 

But now in vain I seek that brighter glow 
Your eyes had worn but one brief hour ago — 
Your laughter's heady wine I quaff no more, 
That warmed the shivering beggar at your door. 



[40] 



YOU 

CHEY tell me you are very fair, 
They speak of gold within your hair, 
Of your dear face that gleams so white, 
A little moon in golden night. 
They bid me see in your sweet eyes, 
Twin starlets fallen from the skies. 
They say the rosebud ever slips 
Beneath disguise of your red lips. 
I laugh and say : I only know 
The touch of hair that glitters so, 
Can only see the glad surprise 
That came one day into your eyes 
When in an ecstasy of bliss, 
I crushed the rosebuds in a kiss ! 



[41] 



THE SPINNER 

OF his own golden beauty spun, 
The threads of tinted silk, the Sun 
With eager hands his shuttle plied 
Until at eve he flung aside 
The soft rich web of fabric fair, 
And every rainbow hue was there: 
Pure gold as bright as angel-wings, 
And silver mists the moonbeam brings, 
And gray as soft as children's tears, 
And faintest rose-flush that appears 
On new-kissed lips, and palest blue 
Of cloudlets drenched with shining dew. 
And from this stuff of light and shade 
The dreaming heart its tissue made. 



[42] 






MOONLIGHT ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY 

i^HE happy moon blushed warm as ardent Night 
^^/ His love tale told. Then slipped from shoulders 

white 
Her scarf of pure and shim'ring silver spun 
By laughing fairies when their work is done. 
Down, down, it fell, as soft as petals flung 
From roses white, or song that Love has sung, 
Until its beauty rested for a while 
On happy waves, that soon began to smile, 
And ever tried with gentle hands to lift 
And softly touch the white and gleaming drift 
Of jewels made from dancing silver beams 
That played with little stars and lived in dreams. 



[43] 



OUR LIPS WERE DUMB 

OUR lips were dumb ; but glances swift and fast 
As living arrows flew between our eyes. 
And in that short goodbye — our first and last — 
We knew the bliss and loss of Paradise. 

Our lips were dumb ; no foolish words were said, 
No parting sighs nor burst of useless tears. 
But thy dear silent voice called from the dead 
And made to live again our golden years. 



[44] 



IN THE TEA ROOM 

S CROSS the room there falls a screen 
Of perfumed smoke, and bright eyes seem 
Like tiny bits of darkened glass. 
And slow the idle hours pass, 
While strains of dreamy music sweet, 
Fall on the heart with pulsing beat, 
And nectar rare in dainty sips 
Flows past the full and painted lips, 
And by their faces one can see 
They feed their thirsty souls on tea. 



[45] 



A MOTHER TO HER LITTLE SON 



I 

O small your hands to hold my heart, 
That restless beat through day and night 
And like a captive arrow-dart 
Was ever poised for instant flight. 

II 

So small your hands, their slenderness 
So like gold lilies, fragrant, fair, 
But all my life they've come to bless 
And leave the whole of Heaven there. 

Ill 

So small your mouth, so honey-sweet, 
And soft as folded angel-wings, 
Or blossoms falling at my feet, 
Or happy songs my glad heart sings. 

IV 

So small your mouth, so crimson-lipped, 
And fashioned for your mother's kiss, 
And every halting word that slipped 
Past that dear portal brought me bliss. 

[46] 



CHRISTMAS JOY 

©HE little shepherds followed swift, 
Upon the golden star. The rift 
Its shining passage made was filled 
With arrow darts of song that thrilled 
Their boyish hearts to ecstasy. 
And then their eager eyes did see 
In stable dark a Babe asleep, 
Within warm arms that fain would keep 
Him there for yet a little while. 
But soon He woke, and with a smile 
Gave welcome to the shepherd band, 
And blessed with His own tiny hand, 
Each happy boy who crowded near, 
And soft caressed Him, without fear. 
His mother saw, with quickened heart, 
How soon would come the hour to part, 
How soon the world its claims would press, 
And rob her of her happiness. 
But now within her sheltering arms 
She held Him close and safe from harms, 
Her Babe Divine, her only One, 
Her God and yet her little Son. 



47] 



THE ARTIST SPEAKS 

nOW will I paint thee, dear, what tints so fair 
Will show the golden splendor of thy hair? 
Or what soft shade will match the wistful smile 
That comes to thy young mouth to rest awhile? 
Oh, not with colors bright nor vivid hues, 
Nor purple's arrogance, nor dashing blues ; 
But with elusive shimmering misty grey, 
With palest flush of rose long hid away 
In dawn's soft veil. I'll mix with cunning art 
Upon the palette of my throbbing heart 
These colors rare ; then paint the moonlight's sheen, 
The cloudlet's blue — the glory of a dream. 



[48] 



SERENADE 

OH ! once to me the sea was wondrous fair, 
When rays of silver splendor lingered there. 
Once, too, I loved the azure fields of space, 
Each star ablaze in its appointed place. 

Now from beneath thy window, tenderly 

My winged song flies straight and swift to thee ; 

And all forgot in this sweet thrilling hour, 

The bright-eyed sea, the moonbeams' silvern shower. 



[49] 



SPRING SONG 

gCART passed in the dull grey city street, 
Piled high with Spring. Each petaled blossom 
sweet 
Was like a bird that sang a song of hope, 
And every listening heart of those that grope 
Along life's wilderness forgot its fears 
And saw dead memories live through happy tears. 
The flowers in music sweetly sang along — 
The empty hearts reached out and caught the song 
That lightly flew and thrilled the dusty air 
With grateful showered notes so sweet and rare ; 
And as they held it close, it sang of life 
And love, and hope fulfilled, and ended strife : 
For a brief hour the heart forgot its pain, 
And eager hands took up their work again. 



[50] 



CROSSING THE BAY 

i^HE ship cuts furrows deep through silver spray 

\^S That laughs into the air then drifts away, 

The soft winds sing a drowsy lullaby — 

A little moon smiles in a jewelled sky; 

A happy city glows upon its hills, 

The ghostly gulls swoop down with eager bills — 

Over all these the dusky wings of Night 

Are spread in resting from their day-long flight ! 



[51] 



UMBRELLAS 

■ tROM out my little window near the sky, 
^F * I watched the big umbrellas passing by, 
So ready and so eager do they seem 
To sail away like bubbles in a dream, 
Upon the gusty air. I'd like to see 
The faces hidden 'neath their mystery. 
That silken one perhaps bends o'er a girl 
Fresh-lipped, bright-eyed, with strands of golden 

curl, 
The ardent rain has jewelled o'er with dew. 
And underneath that next one, bright and new, 
There shines, I know, a face of trust and love, 
With eyes the soft grey of the brooding dove. 
And those old green ones ever bobbing near, 
Shield faces crushed beneath the heel of fear. 
And so I watch through all the mist and rain 
The big umbrellas 'neath my window-pane, 
Until with coming of the sun's bright light 
They quickly close and vanish from my sight. 



[52] 



THE OLD VIOLIN 

i^HE bow sweeps past the silken strings 

^^^ And soft and low the music brings 

From out the dim and shadowed past 

The dreams and hopes too sweet to last. 

Then ladies fair in quilted dress 

Blush at their own bright loveliness, 

The while they curtsey very low 

As through the minuet they go. 

And phantom knights of bygone days 

Step through the dance while music plays. 

And young love dwells in gentle guise 

Within the depths of dark brown eyes. 

So softly throbs the violin, 

So worn and old, so dark and dim ! 

And still the listening soul is thrilled 

And empty hearts with joy are filled. 

And visions come in skies of blue 

As if to music there they grew ! 



[53 



DAWN-MAGIC 

HAST night the world held naught but bitter 
woe, 
I never thought again its joy to know ; 
I held the hand of Pain and stumbled past 
My tender little dreams, too sweet to last. 

Then came dawn-magic to my quiet room, 
I touched my lips to daffodils abloom, 
Then all forgot the broken fretful cry, 
As, looking up, I saw the smiling sky. 



[54] 



TO JEAN 

X LEARNED from you to hear the lark's glad 
hymn, 
Sung to the dawn, from out the shadows dim, 
To feel the wind's cool sweetness on my lips, 
To touch a rose with reverent finger-tips. 

I learned from you to know a sapphire sky, 
Where clouds, like snowy doves, went wandering by, 
To see a happy moon pour silver rain, 
And after cruel grief to smile again. 



[55] 



SUNSET ON THE BAY 

HOW soft and still the waters lie 
Outspread beneath the smiling sky. 
How bright the glowing emerald stain 
On little waves that make a lane 
Of April beauty, fair and green 
And bright, beneath the sunlight sheen. 
But soon the dusky shadows fall, 
And with their dimness cover all 
The sea of light. For in the West, 
A glory glows from every crest 
Of hill. And shafts of rainbow hue 
Fall silver soft. And gleaming through 
The veil of misted scented air 
The City smiles so proudly there! 



[56] 



ONE GOLDEN DAY 

fY% ^ two went g v P s yi n g one golden day, 
vLx Along a trail of little shining leaves, 
And Love walked with us all the glowing way, 
And Happiness came with the singing breeze. 

Our hearts stood tiptoe trembling in the glow 
From little stars up in the happy skies, 
So glad we were of miles we had to go, 
So fair the world seemed to our raptured eyes. 



[57] 



REVEILLE 

XHEAR the golden trumpet-lilies blow 
Soft swaying strains melodious and low 
And, at the herald sounds, from out the mist 
Which moonlight wreathes o'er flowers lately kissed, 
A little troop of tender memories stand : 
A mother's folding arms, a friendly hand, 
And love, long hiding, found in dark brown eyes ; 
A star-bloom fallen from the garden skies, 
A picture glowing in the fire's red heart, 
A sudden joy that made the hot tears start, 
A baby's tiny lips that clung to mine, 
A silver rain through which the pine-trees shine — 
Each in his rank, while still the trumpets play, 
Gleams clear, then fades into the night away. 



[58] 



ALOHA 

COO soon had come the hour to tell 
The sweet Aloha ! Fond farewell ! 
Tall slender shafts of silver lay 
Upon the ocean's heart. The day 
Had crept to sleep in Night's warm arms, 
Like fretted child that fears alarms. 
But now the beach is cool and white 
In draperies of mist so bright 
It seems a woman's lovely face 
Is shining through the gilded lace, 
And to our saddened hearts the foam 
Is like white clinging hands ; the moan 
Of gentle pulsing water seems 
The requiem to all our dreams. 



[59] 



J?D 



2 2 













• ♦♦ ^ 









6* ^ 




1>^ 



^ ° 






4 O 





• .0 



*°i 




4 * • « 






r oV 



I. °* ♦-»* *° 




<f^ 







j>*^ 
> ** ^ 







* .0 1 




0-a >^ 











$ 



D0BBSBR0S. C, »Vfiflfefe* *t* A* 

LIBRARY BINOIMO AV ^fflflk/B * vV <V^ 

NOV 78*^ oM; ^ 

*4 ST. AUGUSTINE ^ * ^> V < 

FLA ' ' • • *b / c«". ^ 0* ■ 





